Young Omanis to start learning farm techniques

Muscat, Feb 3 - A programme to train Omanis in agriculture and fish production began on Sunday. The programme, which kicked off under the auspices of Dr Fuad bin Jaafar al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, consists of theoretical/practical training in vegetable production, cultivation of vegetables in green houses and specialised lectures on fish farming. To be held until May 1, the programme is being held at Knowledge Hall at Agricultural Research Station in Rumais, Barka, Al Batinah South. It targets beneficiaries from Al Kamil W’al Wafi, Al Sharqiyah South, and Suhar, Al Batinah North. “The ministry considered a business incubator to train Omani youth affiliated with integrated projects in Al Kamil W’al Wafi, and Suhar, to ensure success of these projects,” said Sulaiman bin Mohammed al Salmi, Director-General of Marketing, and Agricultural and Animal Investment. Trainees will learn scientific/practical methods of growing vegetables and fish farming, besides the basics of finance management. Al Salmi said the ministry is working to link these projects with markets through agricultural associations and marketing companies. “We need to link projects within the incubator with each other to benefit from sharing experiences, identifying weaknesses and help overcome them,” he added. He said the project encourages young Omanis to invest in economically viable investments that help increase self-sufficiency rates of vegetables and fish, and improve their presentation methods which will help open export markets for both citizens and the country. Ibrahim bin Yaqoub al Numani, Director of Follow-up and Assessment Department, said: “The idea behind this project is to create a link between agriculture and fish farming to produce fish, vegetables and other agricultural products, thus maximising utilisation of land and water resources.”

He said the project aims at improving the quality of agricultural products and reducing loss, increasing agricultural and fishery production and increasing their contribution to the GDP. It also aims to raise self-sufficiency rates of food commodities, creating new job opportunities for Omanis, introducing modern technologies in agriculture and spreading the concept of investment in fish farming within agricultural lands, and organising agricultural marketing of products. Al Numani attributed the launch of such projects to a large number of citizens seeking jobs and reducing cost of vegetable production by reducing the cost of fertilisers.